rush

1 [singular]a sudden strong movementShoppers made a rush for the exits.She was trampled in the rush to get out.They listened to the rush of the sea below.The door blew open, letting in a rush of cold air.He had a rush of blood to the head(= suddenly lost control of himself) and punched the man.

hurry

2 [singular,uncountable]a situation in which you are in a hurry and need to do things quicklyI can't stop—I'm in a rush.What's the rush?‘I'll let you have the book back tomorrow.’ ‘There's no rush.’The words came out in a rush.The note looked like it had been written in a rush.I’m not in any rush to get back to work.The trip to Paris was all a mad rush.a rush job(= one that has been done quickly)

busy situation

3 [singular]a situation in which people are very busy and there is a lot of activityBook now and avoid the last-minute rush.The evening rush was just starting.the Christmas rush

5[singular]a sudden feeling of extreme pleasure or excitementParachuting will give you the rush of a lifetime.Users of the drug report experiencing a rush that lasts several minutes.

sudden demand

6[singular]rush (on/for something)a sudden large demand for goods, etc.There's been a rush on umbrellas this week.see alsogold rush

plant

7[countable,usually plural]a tall plant like grass that grows near water. Its long thin stems can be dried and used for making baskets, the seats of chairs, etc.rush matting

of film/movie

8rushes[plural](specialist)the first prints of a film/movie before they have been edited

in American football

9[countable]an occasion when a player or players run towards a player on the other team who has the ballThere was a rush on the quarterback.

10[countable]an occasion when a player runs forward with the ballJohnson carried the ball an average of 6 yards per rush.

in American colleges

11[singular](North American English)the time when parties are held for students who want to join a fraternity or sororityrush weeka rush party

Word Originnounsenses 1 to 6 and nounsenses 8 to 10late Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old Frenchruser

‘drive back’

, an early sense of the word in English, perhaps based on Latinrursus

‘backwards’

. nounsense 7Old Englishrisc, rysc, of Germanic origin.Extra examplesDo your Christmas shopping early and avoid the rush.During rush hour the drive may take up to twice as long.I’ve been in a mad rush all day.Nothing can beat that adrenalin rush.She experienced a sudden rush of emotion.She felt a rush of blood to her face.The film ended, and there was a rush for the exits.We’ve had a rush on at the office, dealing with the backlog of orders.You can see that the painting was a rush job.a last-minute rush for ticketsa sudden rush of tourist traffic‘I’ll let you have the book back tomorrow.’ ‘ There’s no rush. ’He felt a sudden rush of excitement.I can’t stop—I’m in a rush.The Christmas rush seems to start earlier every year.The words came out in a rush.What’s the rush?When she heard his voice it was with a rush of relief.You often get an adrenalin rush as the race begins.Idioms